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Nancy Guthrie case could be solved by new tech: DNA expert

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by Patrick Djordjevic - 04/09/26 8:37 PM ET

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by Patrick Djordjevic - 04/09/26 8:37 PM ET

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(NewsNation) — Renowned DNA expert CeCe Moore believes investigators should return to Nancy Guthrie’s home in a bid to recover more DNA samples.

In late February, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said DNA found at Guthrie’s Tucson, Arizona, home was “mixed,” meaning samples have genetic material from more than one person.

Subsequently, investigators have had a more difficult experience running the DNA through national databases to identify potential suspects. At the time of writing, there have been no suspects announced in the case.

Moore joined NewsNation senior national correspondent Brian Entin on “Brian Entin Investigates” to discuss how that and new technology could crack the case.

“I think there are a lot of efforts to be able to improve our ability (to deconvolute DNA samples) because we run into that so often with sexual assaults, or as the technology becomes more sensitive with transfer DNA, the ability to detect the tiniest amount of DNA that someone leaves behind really increases the likelihood you’re going to get a mixture, right? Like on a doorknob, for instance,” Moore told Entin.

“But many of the companies that are working with law enforcement to create these profiles are using whole genome sequencing and right now there’s really no good techniques to deconvolute on those,” she added.

Still, Moore believes there is hope of a definitive outcome.

“If they have not been successful in finding a good source of his DNA at Nancy’s home, my hope is they’ll get another chance. Now, the really sad part of that is if they find her body, if she’s deceased, that gives them another opportunity. And so I don’t think it’s the end,” Moore said.

“I don’t know the proportions in that mixture. It depends how many people are in it and what the percentages of those profiles are and which one is the perpetrator. … But without knowing specifically what this mixture is, it’s hard for me to predict. I still believe that there has to be the perpetrator or perpetrators’ DNA at that crime scene,” she added.

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